Caution, passion, and respecting Leeds United tradition all key to Andrea Radrizzani and San Francisco 49ers ownership

He was standing in the middle of a jostling press scrum - a scene that feels so alien almost a year into the pandemic - outside the club's birthplace, Salem Chapel, talking history and future. Achieving that would be enough for him, he insisted.

A day later Leeds beat Birmingham City 1-0 at Elland Road, home town boy Kalvin Phillips the most fitting of goalscorers on the club's centenary, and the victory pushed them into second place in the Championship table.

The rest is history, good history.

Fifteen months on, Radrizzani could walk away from Leeds tomorrow and rest assured that he would indeed be remembered as the man whose ownership secured the return of top flight status.

He has no intention of walking away, as he made abundantly clear this week, opening up the distinct possibility that he could go down in history for something even better than promotion. Or something far worse.

"To make me tired takes a long time," he said.

"Maybe one day when I am tired I will give up and be happy for Paraag [Marathe, vice chairman] to be in the driving position more than anyone else but it will take some time."

It felt like a strong message, even if delivered with a smile during a Zoom to discuss an increased stake in the club for the San Francisco 49ers.

Radrizzani has tasted the 'unique joy' of promotion and has evidently decided it is no longer enough. He is happy and he is going nowhere.

As he hinted back in October 2019, the dream he set out to achieve has simply been replaced by a new one.

That dream, he said on Monday, is European football, a famous night under the lights of a redeveloped Elland Road, against some famous, exotic opponent.

"Until I accomplish this dream you will see me around for a long time," he added.

To make that happen Radrizzani needs to establish Leeds firmly as a Premier League club for a number of years, sticking around long enough to allow top flight revenue to help improve things on and off the field at LS11.

The more money you make, the more improvements you can make, the more money you can make. And so on.

"I'm also realistic that to achieve that level we need to be smart, consistent, current and rational in our decisions," said the Italian.

Caution is prudent. While Leeds fans would hold him in a special place in their hearts forever, if he delivered, and probably even agree to never bring up badge-gate ever again, his dreams are as costly as they are lofty.

Making phase two of his ownership tenure a success but doing so without ensuring the foundations were in place to avoid an early 2000s style crash, would have him remembered very differently in the city of Leeds.

That's why the summer's £100m spend has not been followed by a January splurge. Firstly, it's not necessary, Marcelo Bielsa has led his chiefly Championship squad to a comfortable midtable position by the midway point of the season.

Secondly, it's not possible.

"This doesn't mean tomorrow we buy a player, unfortunately not because we're already financially exposed by the investment we've done this summer as the sixth biggest club investing over £100m," said Radrizzani.

“As a good custodian of the club we need to respect the numbers and we need to be rational.

“The moment we are confirmed in the Premier League for next season we can be open to more opportunities."

So the £50m-plus cash injection from the 49ers' financial backers was timely and important.

Radrizzani has found the party he believes can help him turn what sadly settled into a Championship club into the kind of fantastic beast that dwells in the top half of the Premier League.

And the stateside money men have found an opportunity.

For all the talk of friendship from Marathe, no one needs to spend tens of millions to make friends. If they do, they're going about it all wrong. Buying a Leeds scarf and a round of drinks at the Peacock, when restrictions ease, is a far cheaper tactic.

There is no doubt at all, however, that Radrizzani and Marathe feel the tension during each and every Leeds game and will the ball into opponents' nets with as much passion as any White. They're heavily invested in the outcomes those goals can bring.

The passion is important. Understanding the culture is important - Marathe wants to augment the Elland Road experience but acknowledges that cannot come at the expense of the 'aura' and 'tradition' of the old stadium.

Awkwardly shoehorning 49ers culture into Leeds United social media messages won't curry any favour in these parts, but making the club more self-sufficient by implementing what has worked, commercially, at Levi's Stadium will do.

Ultimately, what will have them remembered as good owners is the state of Leeds United when they sell up.

Right now, it's in a far better place than when Radrizzani found it. If that remains true and his dreams come true, he won't just be remembered, he will be adored.